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New recommendations to stop antibiotics sooner

Telethon Kids researchers are amongst a group of experts who have recommended that doctors can stop intravenous antibiotics sooner in children, helping them to leave hospital earlier and fighting antibiotic resistance.

The systematic review into the duration of intravenous antibiotics for children with bacterial infections, and when it is safe and appropriate to change to oral antibiotics, has developed recommendations that will help doctors to make more informed assessments around the best timing of when to make the switch.

The study published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases looked at 36 bacterial infections in children representing the vast majority of infections needing antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance is a global crisis and proper use of antibiotics is critical. The study found that many traditional courses are too long, which keeps children in hospital unnecessarily and can lead to resistance.

Telethon Kids Institute paediatrician and infectious diseases researcher Dr Asha Bowen said this was the first time doctors have looked at a range of infections in children and put all of the available evidence together in one place to give guidance on antibiotic treatment.

"This is really important work for treatment of infections in children to ensure they get treated effectively but without unnecessary extra days in hospital", Dr Bowen said.

"It's also important information in fighting antibiotic resistance and getting the duration of treatment right is a significant component of this."

Dr Bowen added that this work has also highlighted where more research is needed to guide these decisions for children with an infection.

Telethon Kids researchers Dr Asha Bowen, Dr Chris Blyth and Dr Tom Snelling are members of the Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Infectious Diseases - Australasian Stewardship of Antimicrobials in Paediatrics (ANZPID-ASAP) group who have recommended these guidelines.